Comments on: Japan’s Deep-Rooted Ethos of Fire Prevention http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432 Not a photo blog. A personal blog with photos. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:38:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Arthur http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37992 Arthur Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:54:12 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37992 When I went with the family camping to Kotobikihama, on the coast of the Japan sea, for camping, a local ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), caught on fire. This was at night, at about 9:00 as I remember it, and we heard, much to our amazement, in our tent a very loud announcement. I had no idea what was said as my Japanese is horrible, but my wife said that there was a fire in the town. Apparently, many of the residents rushed to help, though most are elderly, as is the case with lots of rural areas, though the residents of the campground where we were staying were told to stay put. But the announcements came at regular intervals into the night. The next day, we went to see where the inn had burned down, now a smouldering heap. Luckily, no one was injured, but I was impressed by the sense of urgency which was clearly conveyed and the sense of responsibility which the residents obviously felt to help one of their neighbors in trouble. I was also amazed at the volume of the announcements ( they were loud!) as we were camping and it is not something I would have expected to hear in this situation. When I went with the family camping to Kotobikihama, on the coast of the Japan sea, for camping, a local ryokan (traditional Japanese inn), caught on fire. This was at night, at about 9:00 as I remember it, and we heard, much to our amazement, in our tent a very loud announcement. I had no idea what was said as my Japanese is horrible, but my wife said that there was a fire in the town. Apparently, many of the residents rushed to help, though most are elderly, as is the case with lots of rural areas, though the residents of the campground where we were staying were told to stay put. But the announcements came at regular intervals into the night. The next day, we went to see where the inn had burned down, now a smouldering heap. Luckily, no one was injured, but I was impressed by the sense of urgency which was clearly conveyed and the sense of responsibility which the residents obviously felt to help one of their neighbors in trouble. I was also amazed at the volume of the announcements ( they were loud!) as we were camping and it is not something I would have expected to hear in this situation.

]]> By: Earnest Barr http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37978 Earnest Barr Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:40:46 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37978 To your mention about ambulances. When compared to other parts of Japan, the driving etiquette here in Amami is horrendous. They turn their blinkers on 1 second after they start to turn. They don't know what right-of-way is at a 4-way stop. With the new law they implemented a few years ago for driving while talking on your mobile phone, they just stop their car to take a phone calls wherever they are blocking up traffic (or they don't even stop at all and just drive slowly). You can say they have all these things in most of Japan, but in Amami it just seems a regular thing to have bad driving skills/manners. But one thing I can say they do pretty well is move out of the way for ambulances. Everyone opens up a path and lets the ambulances pass. Although, every once in a while, you see a car or two tailgating an ambulance to avoid traffic. To your mention about ambulances.

When compared to other parts of Japan, the driving etiquette here in Amami is horrendous. They turn their blinkers on 1 second after they start to turn. They don’t know what right-of-way is at a 4-way stop. With the new law they implemented a few years ago for driving while talking on your mobile phone, they just stop their car to take a phone calls wherever they are blocking up traffic (or they don’t even stop at all and just drive slowly). You can say they have all these things in most of Japan, but in Amami it just seems a regular thing to have bad driving skills/manners. But one thing I can say they do pretty well is move out of the way for ambulances. Everyone opens up a path and lets the ambulances pass. Although, every once in a while, you see a car or two tailgating an ambulance to avoid traffic.

]]> By: Henk http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37973 Henk Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:12:56 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37973 It's interesting to see that all over the world, at least in the old villages the fear of fire is the same. You can see the same in Holland, where there are still some old villages with houses with thatched roofs exist. But the modern insurance companies don't like them a bit... With as result that people are obliged to provide for their own fire safety. It’s interesting to see that all over the world, at least in the old villages the fear of fire is the same. You can see the same in Holland, where there are still some old villages with houses with thatched roofs exist. But the modern insurance companies don’t like them a bit… With as result that people are obliged to provide for their own fire safety.

]]> By: Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37972 Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:10:16 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2010-01-23/1432#comment-37972 Ummm, perhaps I might point out another very slight discrepancy,,".....like a 95 year old grandmother on her way to bingo." Perhaps that should read "...on her way home from bingo." You really wouldn 't want to be in the way of one going TO bingo, Ummm, perhaps I might point out another very slight discrepancy,,”…..like a 95 year old grandmother on her way to bingo.” Perhaps that should read “…on her way home from bingo.” You really wouldn ‘t want to be in the way of one going TO bingo,

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